Method of connecting the panels oe portable field-fences



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN H. BRUEN, OF ELMlRA, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF CONNECTING- THE PANELS OF PORTABLE FIELD-FENCES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,952, dated December 29, A1857'.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. BRUEN, of Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Field and Portable Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

To enable others to make and use my fence I will describe its construction and arrangement.

I construct a series of panels composed of inch boards of any convenient length and width, secured by being nailed t-o an upright or hatten at each end, of two inches square or thereabout. A third may be nailed to the middle of the panel to stiffen it, or a strip of board will answer the same purpose. The end battens should project at the lower side a few inches and may have a dove-tail tenen out upon them. A small strip of plank, having a corresponding dove-tail mortise made through the center answers for a bed-piece, and a strip of board, C, Figure l, l inch by 5 or 6, and about four feet long, with a notch cut in one end, is required as a brace for each panel.

In setting up the fence, lay the bedpiece A transversely to the direction of the fence, and place two of the panels with their ends together and lapped by two inches, the bottoms being on opposite sides and the tenen or foot of the upright inserted in the dovetailed mortise as at B, Fig. 2. Then insert the notched end of the brace C, between the two upper boards of the panel, and wit-h the shoulder of the notch against the top board a, bear down the opposite end until it presses with considerable strain upon the next below it, b, and fasten to the bed-piece A by a nail. This holds the panel erect with a constant strain upon it and obviates the necessity of a post. Fig. 2 is a cross-section showing the end-piece, D, of one of the panels, E being the opposite one and F the boards or rails. Two hooks, G G, one nailed to one end of each panel into which the rails of the next are dropped and securely held. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of this connection of the panels, the same letters referring to like part-s in the other figures.

The peculiar feature of my fence lies in the brace C, and the manner of connecting the two panels so to depend upon its support, and its capacity for adjustment to adapt it to uneven surfaces of the ground. A gain or notch is usually cut in the bedpiece to receive the foot of the brace which should also be secured by a nail. If the ground is undulating, so that one panel assumes a greater inclination upward than the other, the top presses back the head of the brace as shown at H, Fig. Ll, to a right angle with the inclination of the surface without at all impairing its strength while it secures the panel from sliding from its position. If the inclination be downward, th'e lower part of the panel slides by, in the lower hook, to adapt it to that position. If the fence is built longitudinally of a hill, the bed-piece takes the inclination of the surface and t-he brace is shortened or lengthened depending on which side it is used, as at Fig. 5. A small stake may be driven into the earth at each end of the bed-piece to secure the fence from moving or overturning. The hooks G are composed of small bits of board .with a square notch sawed out for receiving the edges of the boards of the next panel. They are firmly nailed to the end of the panel that is braced. Fig. G shows the method of forming a corner or right angle. The top board and one near the ground are allowed to project three or four inches beyond the end battens and the hook is formed on this projec tion, c.

A small block Z is nailed to the corre sponding rails of -the adjoining panel at a proper distance to form a shoulder for the batten D. The end of the panel, E, is dropped into the hooks c and a; button, (L Fig. 7, on the opposite panel D, is turned so as to prevent the boards being raised from the hooks. No brace is needed at the corners.

Fig. 8, is a top view of the junction of two panels showing the lap. This fence is of very economical cost, requiring no posts, is strong and durable, and exceedingly portable. One man can take it down or put it up with the greatest ease and despatch.

IVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The button e, in combination with the other devices described for locking and securing the panels of field fences, in the manner set forth.

JOHN H. BRUEN. Witnesses:

J. FRASER, S. I. ALLIs. 

